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High earners are a fascinating group. You’re decisive. Capable. Usually the last ones standing when chaos breaks out. And because of that, people tend to assume you’re… invincible. Including me, sometimes. So let me say this upfront: If my last few posts felt like I was coming at you with boxing gloves on, that wasn’t the intention. I promise. I just have a habit of assuming you’ll be fine when things go sideways because, historically, you usually are. But today was a reminde

How Your Money Is Protected If a Life Insurance Company Fails Money comes in different types, shapes, and forms. So does protection. As we step into a new year, I want to wish you a Happy New Year filled with success, growth in mindset, and a deeper understanding of how money actually works. Financial confidence doesn’t come from chasing trends. It comes from understanding the systems beneath them. Which brings us to one of the most common questions I hear, especially from c

I wasn’t planning to write anything until 2026. But my subconscious mind had other ideas. I spent an entire night dreaming about writing this post on paper. Not typing. Handwriting. Line by line. When something keeps knocking that hard, I’ve learned to listen. So here I am, writing what feels like my final Technical Tuesday reflection for 2025. About a year ago, I published a post that unexpectedly put my name on the map among financial planners, advisors, and life insuranc

Originally published in FORCE Magazine – November (Thanksgiving Edition) This is an article I wrote for  FORCE Magazine  this November for Thanksgiving that went live, and I want to share it with my beloved subscribers. Thank you for being here—and for letting me bring value into your life. As we move through the Christmas season, gratitude doesn’t disappear after Thanksgiving. If anything, it deepens. The year slows down. Conversations turn inward. We think about family, hea

Markets rarely announce volatility before it arrives. Instead, they telegraph it quietly through data, policy shifts, and economic signals that are easy to ignore until it’s too late.   That reality was front and center at the  Asian American Business Summit , where the opening presentation featured an economic outlook by PNC. The discussion covered tariffs, political headwinds, employment trends, and broader market movement. The conclusion was direct and unambiguous:   Risks

“I already have a financial advisor.I’m not interested in annuities.” But then, in the same breath: “My biggest concern during retirement is taxes and running out of money. I also just lost $50k in a failed investment after the business went bankrupt due to a robbery.” These two statements don’t live in the same room. So let’s translate the situation into something we all understand. Even for an advisor focusing on one area of expertise, the work is still endless. Your financ

Can We Please Stop Fear-Mongering About Annuities? Can we… stop running advertisements like this? Apple must be listening to its users, because after spending an entire month educating prospects and clients about annuities, I finally got hit with my karmic reward: A bright yellow, dramatic Instagram ad from Fisher Investments screaming: “BEWARE OF ANNUITIES.” Looking. Like. This. 🙄 Fear-mongering click-baits like this still exist in today's world. I mean… come on. If you cl

A Classroom Conversation with Dr. Linh Trinh An, Risk Management Advisor For educational purposes only. Welcome to Risk Management 101! Welcome to Class 👩🏻‍🏫 Risk. Risk. Risk. I see risks everywhere. Am I too young to be this risk-averse? LOL. People keep telling me that spiritually, this is not my first — or even my second — time on this earth. I don’t know about that… but my EQ assessment did place me in my late 50s. So maybe I was a Risk Management Advisor in my last f

“Dr. LTA, are you only focusing on Cash Value Life Insurance for high and ultra-high-net-worth clients?” I get that question  a lot. “I don’t think I’m in a good position to use your services and waste your time.” No, my folks — I do  not  just do Cash Value Life Insurance. Even though my main job is to spread awareness of this incredible tool for long-term financial planning, my true mission is to teach people how to  save and invest smartly  —using  all  the tools in the sh

Have you ever seen those wild pitches from independent life insurance agents? You know the ones — all over TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook: IUL: guaranteed, living benefits, indexed growth, tax-free retirement, no age rules, no penalties, death benefit. 401(k): no guarantees, no living benefits, market risk, taxable retirement income, early withdrawal penalties, no death benefit. Let’s debunk these “facts” (or mis-facts ) so you don’t lock yourself into something you don’t

When it comes to your retirement: you could run out of money before you run out of… life. Last week, I spoke with a gentleman in his 60s. Within five minutes of conversation, I could already hear the quiet alarms going off in my head. He told me he has  three pensions and Social Security . “They barely cover half of my income when I was working,” he said. That was alarm number one. When I asked about investments, he replied: “I have a few millions in my investment account. I

When it comes to term life insurance — how much is enough? Insurance planning should cover decades beyond the grave. I get this question  all the time. It used to happen right after I introduced myself as a “life insurance expert.” (That’s why I don’t anymore 😅) Because the truth is — without a full  fact-finding appointment  where I learn your financial snapshot — there’s no way to give an accurate number. And this past week, I got to witness  exactly why  through a real-l

One of the biggest mistakes people make when planning for retirement is… the naive focus on “hoping” they’ll save enough, instead of sitting down, running the numbers,and deciding how much they’ll actually need. Instead of: “We’ll save whatever we can whenever we can, and hopefully it’ll be enough…” They need to say: “We need XX million in YY years. How do we get there?” Which sounds easier? You bet — the first one. Because it’s easy to hope. But actual planning, with math a

Musicians. My people. I see your silent efforts. I see your struggles. I see all the hustle across multiple domains. Private...

Yes, really. You can actually design a pension for yourself—one that doesn’t depend on your job, your company, or the government. One...

Divorce is one of life’s most defining chapters. It doesn’t just mark the end of a marriage — it often marks the beginning of something...

As a Navy spouse and Risk Management Advisor, I’ve seen firsthand how military families pour their energy into service, mission, and...

Click here to watch one of my performances; hope it brightens your day. I hold a Doctorate in Piano Performance (DMA), with over a decade...